ENERGY FOUNDATIONS for High School Chemistry

Energy Theories

Thermodynamics—the theory of energy

Thermodynamics is the study of energy change accompanying physical and chemical changes. In chemical systems, these changes are described through the ideas of heat and work, enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. These explanations are best understood at the microscopic scale, where the energy can be characterized through the motions of particles and the relative position of particles. While these concepts are abstract, the investigations, videos, and readings in this section give students practical experience with the concepts and rules that govern how matter and energy interact.